2 points. This is the reply which questions Black’s idea.

The original and standard idea was to be able

to play cxd5 and nullify the b7-bishop, or else be able to take back with a piece on d5, leaving Black
with a backward d-pawn.

6...exd5

7.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

7.cxd5!

3 points. This is the new treatment which again puts Black in difficulties.
The most frequently played move is 7.Nh4 (1 point), played by both Alekhine in the above-
mentioned game and by Capablanca himself when he faced this position with White against Frank
Marshall in Carlsbad 1929. A more recent example, Gelfand–Gashimov, Wijk aan Zee 2012,
continued 7...g6 8.Nc3 Bg7 9.Bg5 0-0 10.Qd2 Qe8 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.Bxd5 Nc6, and
Black had no major problems.
The pawn sacrifice has similarities with the heavily-analyzed line 4...Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.d5,
where the difference is that the queen is on c2 and not on d1, and the mainline here is 7...exd5 8.cxd5
Nxd5.

7...Bxd5

The different position of the white queen in the above-mentioned line with 4...Ba6 makes 7...Nxd5
impossible. Why?

Your move after 7...Nxd5.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because White wins a piece with 8.Nh4 (1 point) since the queen is not on c2 and therefore there is
no ...Nb4 targeting it.

8.Nc3 Bc6

If 8...Bb7, vacating c6 for the b8-knight, the same continuation as in the game would follow.
Black understandably does not want to take on f3, so as not to lose control of the light squares. After
8...Bxf3 the winner mentioned the possibility of 9.exf3, followed by f4. The alternative recapture

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9.Bxf3 does not seem bad either with a later Bf4; since Black cannot play ...d5 in the short term,
White’s compensation is clear.

9.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

9.e4!

4 points. This is important to stop Black from developing easily, which would occur after 9.0-0 (no
points) 9...Be7.
However, you have to bear in mind that the move played sacrifices another pawn.

9...d6

Here we have a matter of calculation: it was important to determine if accepting the sacrifice was
preferable, with the risks involved, or whether Black is forced to allow White to gain space.
How would you respond to taking the pawn?

Your move after 9...Nxe4

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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The most precise reply is creating difficulties for Black’s development with 10.Nxe4 Bxe4 11.Qe2!
Qe7 (if 11...d5? there follows 12.Nd2 and then 13.Nxe4 or 13.f3, winning) 12.0-0 (2 points) “and
White has tremendous compensation for the sacrificed pawns,” as indicated by the winner. It is not
clear if this gives Black more chances than what was played in the game after, for example 12...Nc6
13.Bf4 Bf5 14.Qb5.

10.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

10.0-0

2 points. “White could try greedier options like 10.Qb3 (1 point) or 10.Bf4 (1 point), but the
simplest solution is also the strongest. White has a huge lead in development, which gives him a
serious advantage,” pointed out the winner.

10...Be7

It would be good to be able to play 10...g6 and castle soon, but it is not possible.
Why not?

Your move after 10...g6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because White prevents Black’s idea by breaking quickly with e5, both after 11.Re1 Bg7 12.e5 (2
points) or even directly with 11.e5 (1 point). Even after trading queens with 11...dxe5 12.Qxd8+
Kxd8 13.Nxe5 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 White gets the pawn back, the black king remains exposed, and there
are many weaknesses for White to pressure.

11.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

11.Nh4!

2 points. Black must now choose between allowing the powerful Nf5-jump, or delaying development
with a weakening move.

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11...g6

Black opts for the latter, as after 11...0-0 12.Nf5 Re8 13.Bf4 Bf8 14.Re1, or directly 14.Bxd6, White
gets the pawn back with more activity and advantage.

12.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

12.Bh6

1 point. Of course! Stopping Black from castling.

12...Bf8

It is not possible to continue development with 12...Nbd7. Why?

Your move after 12...Nbd7.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
There are several advantageous moves, such as 13.f4 (2 points), or 13.Re1 (1 point) leaving Black
the difficult task of how to continue while the king is still in the center.

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The most direct is 13.e5! (2 points), winning material, e.g. 13...Nxe5 14.f4! Bxg2 15.fxe5 Bxf1
16.exf6 Bxf6 and now strongest is to exploit the lack of coordination between Black’s pieces with
17.Qa4+! b5 (or 17...Qd7 18.Qe4+ and Qxa8+) 18.Qe4+ Kd7 19.Rxf1 with a winning position.

13.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

13.Bxf8

2 points. The most natural and demanding continuation was to take advantage of the pin with 13.Bg5
(no points), when 13...h6? 14.Bxf6! fails (the winner thought of 14.e5? during the game but then
realized it wasn’t correct) 14...Qxf6 15.Nd5 Qd8, and now the sequence 16.e5! dxe5 17.Qc2! is
crushing, because after 17...Bxd5 18.Rad1 the black king cannot survive in the center.
Instead of 13...h6 Black can play 13...Be7 and it seems there is nothing better than 14.Bh6.
13.Qd2 (1 point) was indeed possible, and after 13...Bxh6 14.Qxh6 Ng4 15.Qd2 Black can castle,
but following 15...0-0 16.Rad1 White can get the pawn back whenever he feels like doing so; Black’s
position has too many weaknesses, but compared with what was achieved in the game, White’s
benefits are fewer.

13...Kxf8

Now there are several possibilities.

14.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

14.Qd2

3 points. White keeps on playing in a simple yet strong way, again improving the pieces, something
that Black cannot imitate.
The queen goes to d2, heading for g5 or h6 at some point to join the attack after a well-timed Nf5 if
the tactics allow it.
14.f4 (2 points) was also attractive, aiming for a quick e5, and planning to follow up with Qd2, as in
the game.
The winner offered a third attractive possibility: “A player who enjoys direct attacks could have
chosen 14.e5 (2 points) 14...Ne8 15.e6! Nc7 (15...Bxg2 16.Nxg2 Nc6 17.Re1 is excellent for White)
16.exf7 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 d5 18.f4!.” White’s attack is very strong; we can see a ‘cooperative’ example:

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18...Nc6 19.f5 g5 20.f6! gxh4 21.Qg4, winning.

14...Ne8

15.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

15.Rad1

2 points. White is in no hurry and his final inactive piece enters the game. This is the most practical,
though 15.f4 (1 point) was also strong, aiming for a quick f5 and/or also e5.

15...Kg7

There are several possible moves here for White; which one is the strongest?

16.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

16.f4!

2 points. All the white pieces are ready for when the game opens up, while their black counterparts
lag behind in development and Black has an irretrievably weak king.

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16...Qc8

Black loses yet another tempo by retreating from the d-file to play ...Nd7.
The immediate 16...Nd7 is met with 17.e5 and if 17...Bxg2 both 18.Nxg2 (to play Ne3), and
18.Qxg2 are strong, planning Ne4, Nb5, Qb7 and/or f5, depending on how Black plays.

17.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

17.Nd5!

3 points. “Another piece joins the party, 17.e5 (1 point) was also strong,” commented the winner.

17...Rf8

During the game the winner thought that eliminating the invader with 17...Bxd5 would give more
defensive chances. However he soon realized that it favors White’s activity and surrenders control of
the light squares, which is tactically confirmed after 18.Qxd5 Nd7 19.e5 (“19.Qg5! is even
stronger.”) 19...Rb8, and now there are several good continuations: Boris Gelfand was attracted by
20.Nf3!, pointing out that it was important to improve the worst piece even in advantageous
positions, and after 20...h6 (if 20...Qb7 the white queen retreats to b3 or d2) 21.f5 gxf5 22.Nh4! “the
knight heads for f5 which means the game is over.” (Gelfand)

18.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

18.e5!

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3 points. Naturally, opening up lines was also strong, so 18.f5! (2 points).

18...dxe5

19.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

19.f5!

2 points. Completing the standard pawn sacrifice maneuver in the Benoni, and different from the
previous suggestion of 18.f5! as now the g2-bishop remains active.
It is true that it is not so important here, since with an active bishop or not White has an equally
winning advantage, but in general there is no reason to miss a chance of improving the position.

19...Qd8

What is the quickest punishment after 19...f6?

Your move after 19...f6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
There could follow 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.Nxg6! (1 point) for 21...Kxg6 22.Ne7+.

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 20.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

20.f6+!

2 points. It is a matter of taste, but equally strong was to open the f-file with 20.fxg6 hxg6 and now
fastest is 21.Nxg6! (2 points) 21...fxg6 22.Rxf8 Kxf8 23.Qh6+ with a decisive attack, for example.
23...Kg8 24.Qxg6+ Kh8 25.Rf1 or 25.Be4.
20...Nxf6
What was White’s idea?

21.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

21.Nf5+!

2 points. “It was hard to imagine after Black’s eleventh move ...g6 that the knight would jump to f5
with such a decisive effect.” (Gelfand)
Both 21.Nxf6 as 21.Rxf6 win material but delay the game’s finish and get no points.

21...Kh8

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Or 21...gxf5 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Nxf6 Qe7 24.Qh6.

22.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

22.Qh6

1 point. And now it’s game over.

22...Rg8 23.Nxf6

If 23...Qxf6 then the simple 24.Nd6 decides.

Boris Gelfand commented: “Quite a simple game, but pretty, and I believe with instructive value.”
1–0
Boris Gelfand–Dmitry Andreikin, Grand Prix Baku, 02.10.2014

SOME LESSONS FROM THE GAME*

* Italics indicate that the move belongs to a line and not to the actual game.
1. Sacrificing a pawn for long-term compensation is an instructive resource: 7.cxd5!
2. After sacrificing material, precise play is demanded to keep up the pressure: 9.e4!
9.0-0?
11.Nh4!
3. Do not forget that ‘chess is a team game,’ and ask yourself, “Which piece can be improved?”:
14.Qd2!
15.Rad1!
17.Nd5!
4. It is good to know typical structures, even those of lines which are not in your repertoire, such as
the Benoni maneuver: 18.e5!
19.f5!

MAXIMUM SCORE: 44 POINTS

• More than 39 points: Super Grandmaster.
• Between 36 and 39 points: Grandmaster.
• Between 31 and 35 points: International Master.
• Between 17 points: Surely you agree with Gelfand on the ‘instructive value’ pointed out in the final
description of this beautiful game.

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 Game 8
White: You
Black: Master
Sicilian Defense [B48]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6

7.a3

This was an almost forgotten move until Magnus Carlsen brought it back into fashion in 2016,
although it was not in a classical game.
It may seem very passive to someone looking at the position for the first time, especially compared to
the more frequent 7.Qd2 followed soon by long castling, but its virtues also start to show when you
realize that by controlling b4, neither ...Bb4 nor ...Nb4 is possible, and that the future ...b5 advance
won’t threaten to kick the Nc3 away with ...b4.
Castling on either side of the board is not ruled out and attacking the black king is still a plan, so it is
not surprising that it can be found in the games of Mikhail Tal from the ’60s and ’70s.

7...Nf6

Black continues to develop in a natural way, though he has several possibilities to choose from, such
as 7...b5, which was the move favored by Mark Taimanov. This speeds up queenside development
with ...Bb7, and maybe ...Rc8, without defining the destination of the g8-knight’s yet, which could go
to e7.

8.Your move.

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 Show/Hide Solution

8.f4

3 points. White can also continue in various ways. This is possibly the most aggressive choice,
though we must take into account that it entails a pawn sacrifice.
The main alternative is 8.Be2 (2 points).

8...Nxd4

Black could have prevented the threat of 9.e5 by playing 8...d6, reaching a standard Scheveningen
position after, for example, 9.Qf3 Be7 10.Bd3 (10.0-0-0 has also been played) 10...0-0 11.0-0. Here it
is possible to complete development with 11...Bd7, while a typical maneuver is 11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4
e5, which is playable, but in this case does not seem to solve all of Black’s difficulties. True, 13.fxe5
dxe5 14.Qg3 it is not dangerous due to the king’s position on g1, which allows 14...Bc5!. However,
White would play 13.Be3, with the positional threat of f5 and g4, and after 13...exf4 14.Qxf4 now if
14...Qa5 there follows 15.Bd4 and then 16.Rhe1, as Tal remarked, with dangerous pressure on
Black’s castled position.
Let’s see how you would respond to 14...Be6.

Your move after 14...Be6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
White could play 15.Bd4 as we already concluded, but it is not the most energetic and gets no points:
Black could go for the typical 15...Nd7 maneuver, aiming to occupy e5.
Stronger is 15.Nd5! (2 points), when after 15...Nxd5 16.exd5 Black is forced to play 16...Bc8, since
16....Bxd5? loses to 17.Qf5.
Preferable is 15...Bxd5 16.exd5, when 16...Nxd5? is not possible due to 17.Qe4 Nf6 18.Rxf6
winning, so almost forced is 16...g6! with a somewhat preferable position for White after 17.Bd4.

9.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

9.Bxd4!

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2 points. This correct pawn sacrifice makes Black’s previous move questionable: the bishop is very
active on d4, pressing on f6 and X-raying g7, while Black did not get anything clear by way of
compensation.
Less promising is 9.Qxd4 (no points), when Black seems to be OK after 9...Ng4! 10.Qb6 Bd6
11.Qxc7 (11.e5 Nxe3, eliminating the bishop, is a relief for Black) 11...Bxc7 12.Bd2, and now,
instead of 12...d6 13.Be2 kicking the g4-knight, the alternative 12...Bb6! seems more precise, because
if 13.Bd3 there follows 13...Nf2, trading the bishop, while on 13.Nd1 d5 is satisfactory.

9...d6

Black refuses to accept the pawn. Let’s analyze what happens if he takes it.

Your move after 9...Qxf4.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
The first step is 10.g3! (2 points), pushing away the queen from controlling e4 so that after 10...Qc7
White can play 11.e5!. Now if 11...Nd5 White can simply play 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.Bg2, and after
recovering the pawn White develops more quickly and gains an advantage. It is also possible to go for
more by playing 12.Ne4 in this line, turning it into a real pawn sacrifice after 12...b5 13.Bd3,
followed by Qh5 when White has great compensation.
The problem with 11...Ng8 (to recycle the knight with ...Ne7 and then take it to c6 or f5), is that it
loses too many tempi. There might follow 12.Ne4 or continuing with development by playing 12.Bg2

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Ne7 13.0-0, and now why is 13...Nf5 not worth it?

Your move after 13...Nf5.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because of 14.Rxf5! exf5 15.Nd5 Qb8 16.Bb6 (1 point).
13...Nc6 is better, but White continues to make progress with 14.Ne4!. After 14...Nxd4 (not
14...Nxe5? 15.Qh5! d6, and e.g. 16.Rf2 for Raf1, and Black is powerless) 15.Qxd4 b5 Black plans
16...Qa7, but White achieves a dominant position even without queens after for example 16.a4 bxa4
17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.exd6 Qa7 19.Qxa7 Rxa7 20.Rxa4. White’s rooks are quickly activated after 20...0-
0 21.Rb4 (preventing ...Bb7) 21...a5 22.Rb6 Ba6. Now better than 23.Ra1 Bc4!, aiming for ...Bd5, is
23.Rf4! with the idea of 24.Ra4 and b4, regaining the pawn with a big advantage.
Back to the game.

10.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

10.Qf3!

3 points. This was the main idea of 8.f4: White prepares long castling.

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Of course it is also possible to play 10.Be2 (1 point), and later castle short, although besides 10...Be7
there is also 10...e5 to take into account.

10...Bd7

Black should decide what to do with the king and how to proceed with development.
One possibility is 10...Be7, when 11.0-0-0 0-0 could follow How would you play in that case?

Your move after 11...0-0.

Choose between:
• 12.g4
• 12.e5
• 12.f5

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
12.e5 is possible (1 point), when 12...dxe5?! is not advisable due to 13.Bxe5!, opening up diagonals
against Black’s castled position. If 13...Qc6 there follows 14.Qh3 and then Bd3. Better is 12...Nd7
but after 13.exd6 Bxd6 14.g3 White’s position is easier to play.
The impetuous advance 12.g4? (loses 1 point) fails to 12...e5!, but White can refine this idea by
playing 12.f5! (2 points), with the idea of g4–g5, and he has a lead in the attacking stakes as Black
has not started his yet.
We also have the typical maneuver 10...e5 to consider.

Your move after 10...e5.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Here it fails because the black queen is undefended, therefore 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.Qg3 follows (1 point),
winning a pawn.
Let’s see a little bit of how Tal–Gufeld, Tbilisi 1969, went: 10...b5 11.0-0-0 Bb7 12.Bd3 Rc8
(12...Be7 is met with 13.g4!) 13.Rhe1 Qa5 (on 13...e5 14.Nd5! is strong, while if 13...Be7 again
14.g4! is strong) 14.Qe3 (stopping 14...b4 due to the 15.Bb6 threat) 14...Nd7.
Black to play.

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 Your move after 14...Nd7.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
The faulty position of the black king in the center shows in various ways, the strongest of which is
15.Nd5! (2 points). If 15...exd5 16.exd5+ Kd8 the most overwhelming is 17.Bf5! (threatening
18.Qe8+) when 17...Kc7 does not defend due to 18.Bxd7 Kxd7 19.Bb6! Qa4 20.Qh3+ and mate.
The game continued 15...Qd8 16.Qg3, when Black is paralyzed and can only wait for White to show
how he will progress after 16...h5 17.c3 h4 18.Qg4 Nf6 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Kb1 Be7 21.e5, opening
up the game (and not being distracted by winning a mere pawn with 21.Qg7 Kd7! 22.Qxf7 Qg8,
when Black has paid a too low a price for the position of his king).
After 21...Kf8 22.Bc2, playing 22...f5 now offers a point of contact which allows White to open up
lines with a later g4, so Black plays 22...dxe5, and how would you play now as White?

Your move after 22...dxe5.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
23.Bxe5! (2 points), but not 23.fxe5, which would allow 23...f5! under favorable circumstances,
satisfactorily closing down the king side.

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The game ended abruptly after 23...Bd5 24.Bd4 f5? 25.Qg7+.
1–0.
Instead of 24...f5 there was suggested 24...Qc7 25.f5 Qxh2. What would you play in this case?

Your move after 25...Qxh2.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
26.fxe6 would not be overwhelming after 26...Qxg2 27.Qf5 fxe6 28.Rxe6 Bxe6 29.Qxe6 Rd8, but
decisive is 26.Bxf6! (2 points), when after 26...Bxf6 27.fxe6 Bxe6 28.Rxe6! fxe6 29.Qxe6 White
gets a material advantage as well as an attack.

11.0-0-0 Bc6?

More consistent with the previous move was 11...Rc8, although it is true that it doesn’t inspire
confidence either. The same goes for 11...Be7 12.Bd3.

12.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

12.Bxf6!

2 points. This would also be the answer to 11...Rc8.

12...gxf6

We have reached a Rauzer variation structure; how do you proceed?

13.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

13.f5!

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2 points. This is the thematic continuation! White fixes Black’s structure, taking away mobility and
strength from Black’s central pawns.

13...h5

Of course, playing ...e5 surrenders control of the d5-square and weakens the a2–g8 diagonal, so Black
prefers to allow fxe6, though this forces him to keep an eye on the defense of the central pawns.

14.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

14.Bc4!

3 points. Increasing the pressure on e6. However 14.fxe6 fxe6 15.Qxf6 (1 point) is less convincing
because, at the price of a pawn, Black guarantees diagonals for the bishops and has a safer king. After
15...Rh6 16.Qg5 is possible and now 16...Qe7 (16...Qg7 is also interesting, sacrificing a second
pawn) when on 17.Qe3 0-0-0, or 17.Qa5 Qd8 18.Qb4 Qc7 with the idea of castling, Black achieves
better prospects than in the game.

14...Bd7

Black defends e6 and counterattacks, hitting the Bc4 with the idea of castling. How should White
continue?

15.Your move.

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 Show/Hide Solution

15.fxe6!

2 points. Opening lines against the black king is the first step.

15...fxe6

What is the second step?

16.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

16.Qxf6!

3 points. This temporary piece sacrifice prevents the black king from finding a safe shelter.

16...Rh6 17.Qg5 Qc5

How would you respond to the bishop capture?

Your move after 17...Qxc4.

Show/Hide Solution

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Answer:
There would follow 18.Rhf1! (3 points), and there is no good defense against the threat of 19.Rxf8+,
as on 18...Rh8 White has the decisive 19.Qg6+ Kd8 20.Qf6+.
With the move played Black aims to exchange queens, even if it is under less favorable conditions
than before. How to respond?

18.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

18.Bd5!

2 points. Of course White does not consider trading queens. What was played is stronger, as in the
event of 18...exd5 again there would follow 19.Rhf1, and there is no defense.
Also strong, but less so, is 18.Nd5 (1 point).

18...Rh8 19.Qg6+ Ke7

20.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

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20.Kb1!

4 points. A ‘quiet move’ against which Black has no good answer. It gets rid of the threat of
20...Bh6+ followed by ...Rag8, and plans 21.Rhf1.

20...Qe3

21.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

21.Bxe6!

2 points. This continues with the policy of opening up lines, and is more overwhelming than the also
winning 21.Rhf1 (1 point).

21...Bxe6

22.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

22.Nd5+

2 points. Opening the e-file and it is game over.

22...Bxd5 23.exd5

This threatens to win the queen as well as attacking via the e- and f-files. If 23...Qh6 24.Rde1+ Kd8
25.Qf7 decides.

23...Rh6

24.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

24.Qg8

1 point. Renewing the threat of Re1.

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24...Kd7

25.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

25.Rde1

1 point. Saving the other rook for f1.

1–0
David Antón Guijarro–Marin Bosiocic, European Championship, Minsk, 05.06.2017

SOME LESSONS FROM THE GAME*

* Italics indicate that the move belongs to a line and not to the actual game.
1. Which piece to exchange? Which ones to keep? In this game with 8...Nxd4? Black’s response
failed, and we also saw evidence of such moves that complicated matters:
18.Bd5!
2. It is important to know the typical maneuvers of the chosen opening and check if they can be
implemented in the game situation: 12.Bxf6!
13.f5!
3. Tactics are essential to improve the position: 9.Bxd4!
16.Qxf6!
18.Bd5!
4. Even when there is a good move it is worth asking yourself: ‘Do I have a better one?’: 14.Bc4!
14.fxe6?!
5. Never forget about defense and always ask yourself: ‘How might my opponent respond?’: 20.Kb1!

MAXIMUM SCORE: 49 POINTS

• More than 44 points: Super Grandmaster.
• Between 40 and 44 points: Grandmaster.
• Between 35 and 39 points: International Master.
• Between 25 and 30 points: You are a master of attack.
• Between 18 and 24 points: Fairly well played.
• Between 8 and 17 points: The young Spanish master David Antón plays very well, doesn’t he?
Game 9
White: You
Black: Master

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 Berlin Defense [C67]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6

6.dxe5

Declining to play 6.Bxc6, which in the main line leads to a complex ending after 6...dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5
8.Qxd8+. Kasparov called it ‘a queenless middlegame,’ but the first player prefers a middlegame with
queens on the board.
This piece sacrifice is far from being new. It was first played in 1887, but it was considered a
secondary variation until a few years ago.

6...Nxb5 7.a4 Nbd4!

Naturally Black plays the most precise reply: the surprise effect was successful years ago, but not
anymore. We need to know and show how to punish other reactions. For example, an insufficient
answer is 7...d6, but how would you respond?

Your move after 7...d6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
White takes the initiative with the sacrifice 8.e6! (2 points), first played by Janowski in 1898. If
8...fxe6 9.axb5 Black is still behind in development and must still use several tempi in putting the

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king in safety, for example 9...Ne7 10.Nc3 Nf5 11.Nd4! Qf6?! 12.b6! cxb6 13.Ndb5 Qd8 14.g4, or
9...Nb4 10.Ng5 Qf6 11.Ra4!.
The recapture 8...Bxe6 is not the solution either, as after 9.axb5 Ne5 10.Nd4, followed by f4, and/or
Ra3, White gets a lasting initiative.
There are several Black wins in the database in these two lines, but this is tricky and somewhat
misleading, as that happens because the players of the black pieces were much stronger than their
opponents. In short, White’s position is to be preferred.
Also weaker is 7...Nd6, and after 8.Bg5 f6, how would you play?

Your move after 8...f6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
The strongest is 9.Re1! (2 points), and Black’s position is terrible after 9...Be7 10.exd6 cxd6 11.Bf4.
A recent example, Guseinov–Deac, Batumi 2018, continued 9...Nxe5?! 10.Nxe5 Be7, when White
had a winning attack after 11.Bxf6! gxf6 12.Qh5+ Kf8 13.Ng6+ hxg6 14.Qxh8+ Kf7 15.Qh7+ Kf8,
and again White incorporates the Ra1 into the attack with 16.Ra3.

8.Nxd4 Nxd4

The main alternative is to play 8...d5 directly, without trading knights, but Black prefers to keep the
pawn structure intact.

9.Qxd4 d5

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10.Qd3

The queen retreats from d4, avoiding ...Bf5.

This is more ambitious than 10.exd6 Qxd6 which sometimes leads to a draw by repetition after
11.Qe4+ Qe6 12.Qd4 Qd6.

10...c6

To be able to play ...Be6 without fearing Qb5+ when the b7-pawn falls.

11.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

11.a5

2 points. White prefers to wait and see how Black plays before developing the minor pieces since
“The move a5 is always useful to prevent ...b6 or to disturb Black’s queenside with a6,” as indicated
by the winner.
Naturally, also possible was 11.Nc3 (2 points), although it is less flexible.

11...Be6

The most natural developing move, to control the light squares after ...Qd7, although a curious
alternative is also played: 11...Qd7 aiming for a later ...Qf5.

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12.Nc3

White considers it is about time to develop the knight.

In Lomasov–Leko, Moscow (rapid) 2018, White did not achieve too much with 12.f4, as after 12...g6
13.Nd2 c5 14.Nf3 Qd7 15.Be3 Be7 16.Bf2 Bf5 17.Qd2 Be4 the black pieces are very well placed.
The move 12.f4 gained space, but in return left the light squares a little weaker.

12...Qd7

13.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

13.Ne2!

2 points. This is the reason behind 12.Nc3: the knight is looking for new horizons and might go to
d4, or maybe to f4 or g3.

13...Bf5 14.Qc3

14...Your move.

Choose between:
• 14...Be7
• 14...Rd8
• 14...0-0-0
• 14...c5

Show/Hide Solution

14...Be7

Black continues with development: not bad, but considering the practical effect, it gets no points.
Less convincing is 14...Rad8?! (loses 1 point), on which there would follow 15.Bg5!, e.g. 15...Rc8
(15...Be7? is not possible because of 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.a6!, showing the worth of 11.a5.) 16.Rfe1, and
Black has problems with development.
Even worse is to ‘get into the wolf’s mouth’ with 14...0-0-0? (loses 2 points), since after, for
example, 15.Be3 Kb8 16.b4, White gets an attack for free.
Best was 14...c5! (4 points), not only controlling d4, but also looking for a timely ...d4. After e.g.

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15.Ng3 Be6 16.Nh5, the black king is ready to shelter on the queenside by playing 16...0-0-0 17.a6
b6 directly, or after preparing it with 16...d4 17.Qg3 Bc4 18.Re1 and now 18...0-0-0.

15.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

15.Bh6!

5 points. “A beautiful geometrical blow, which is easy to see, but at the same time, easy to omit,”
was Anish Giri’s description. Does it remind you of game 2, Browne–Bisguier, Chicago 1974?
It is true that, objectively, this move does not have the same lethal effect as it did there, but “from this
moment on the black king won’t be in a comfortable situation anymore,” as indicated by the winner.
Take Black’s side for the last time and defend the position to the best of your ability.

\15...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

15...d4?

This defense is insufficient and loses 1 point.

“Black is trying to simplify, but not in the correct way,” commented the winner, after pointing out
that it was not easy to overcome the shock surely suffered by the player conducting Black in a

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complex position.
The practical effect of the spectacular move above was tremendous, but “still nothing critical
happened,” as pointed out by Nikita Vitiugov, and Black should have kept his head and played
15...Rg8! (4 points).
16.Be3 is met by 16...c5!, when the player of White commented that he had to choose between two
possibilities: one is 16.Bd2, a satisfactory retreat after stopping short castling by Black, and the other
one is 16.Bxg7.
In the case of 16.Bd2 c5 there could follow either 17.Ng3, or the more energetic 17.b4!, trying to
expose the situation of the black king after 17...cxb4 18.Qe3 Rc8 19.Nd4 when White has good
compensation for the pawn.
This seems more promising than 16.Bxg7 Rxg7! 17.e6 Rxg2+! 18.Kxg2 fxe6, when it is Black who
enjoys reasonable compensation for the sacrificed material.

16.Nxd4 gxh6

17.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

17.e6

1 point. Of course, this is what the long black diagonal was opened for.

17...Bxe6 18.Nxe6 Rg8

Material is equal, but Black has a worse structure and an exposed king.
How can we take advantage of that?

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 19.Your move.

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19.Nf4!

4 points. It was hard to resist to 19.Ng7+ (1 point), but the winner considers that “it only wastes
time,” and indicated that there could follow 19...Kf8 20.Nh5 Rd8. Black could also play 20...Qf5
21.Ng3 Qc5.
The check is not bad, but as we shall see what was played is best; the knight is in an excellent
position on f4, much better than on g3.

19...Qf5

The biggest justification of 19.Ng7+ is that it prevented long castling, so how would you play in that
case?

Your move after 19...0-0-0.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
The natural 20.a6! would follow (2 points), when after 20...b5 there are several attractive

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continuations, such as 21.Rad1. The winner indicates 21.g3 Bd6 22.Rad1 Qc7 23.Nd3, where
“Black’s position is awful, practically lost.”

20.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

20.Ra4!

3 points. The most energetic defense of the knight; the rook takes advantage of the fact that it can be
activated from the fourth rank and the a6-threat is renewed.

20...Qf6

21.Your move.

Choose between:
• 21.Qd3
• 21.Qe3
• 21.Qxf6

Show/Hide Solution

21.Qd3

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1 point. Also 1 point for “the good alternative” 21.Qe3, as it was described by Vitiugov, when White
plans to triple on the e-file.
Of course, there is no need to trade queens with 21.Qxf6? (loses 3 points), as the black king should
not be given such relief.

21...Rd8 22.Qxh7

The engines’ preference is still 22.Qe3, but why refuse the capture of a pawn with tempo?
“Just in case, if White does not win immediately, it would be a good ending!” commented the winner.

22...Rg7

Tougher was 22...Kd7, planning ...Kc8, but it would be agony all the same.

23.Qe4 Qxb2

Black was faced with the threat of 24.Nh5, but of course restoring the material balance does not help.
The biggest concern is the exposed situation of the king.

24.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

24.Re1

1 point. The only inactive piece enters the game with a direct threat.

24...Rd7

25.Your move.

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25.a6!

2 points. There are other good moves, but this one is the most direct, the strongest and the only one
getting points!
If 25...b5, 26.Raa1 wins, but 26.Qxc6! bxa4 27.Nd5 is faster.

25...Rg5

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 26.Your move.

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26.h4

2 points. The simplest; White gets some air with tempo. It is even an echo of the 23.h4! from
Browne–Bisguier.
Black’s idea was to hope that White made ‘the mistake’ of playing 26.axb7, but this is also correct, as
pointed out by Vitiugov (2 points), because even after 26...Re5!?, trying to take advantage of White’s
back rank weakness, it is winning for White... but how?

Your move after 26...Re5.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
With the sequence 27.Rb4! Rxe4 28.b8=Q+ Rd8 29.Qxd8+ Kxd8 and now the decisive move
30.Rd1+! (4 points).
The alternative 27...Rxb7 does not hold either: 28.Qxc6+ Kf8 29.Rbe4! Rxe4 30.Qxe4, followed by
g3, Nd5, etc., with a winning position.

26...Rb5

27.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

27.axb7

1 point. And the a2-pawn successfully fulfills its mission. Now the c6-pawn falls.

27...Rbxb7 28.Qxc6 Kf8 29.Qxh6+ Qg7

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 30.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

30.Ne6+!

2 points. Not the only move, but certainly the prettiest, and the most effective since Black
surrendered.
After 30...fxe6 31.Rf4+ Kg8 32.Qxe6+ Kh8 the quickest finish is 33.Re5 Qh7 34.Ref5 when there is
no good defense against 35.Rf8+ and mate, or 35.Qe5+.
The prosaic 30.Qh5 and 30.Qc6 also get points. 2 points.
1–0
Nikita Vitiugov–Pentala Harikrishna, Prague, 07.03.2019.

SOME LESSONS FROM THE GAME*

* Italics indicate that the move belongs to a line and not to the actual game.
1. King safety is an essential element when evaluating and deciding how to continue: 7...d6?
7...Nd6?
2. In general, it is better to make a ‘forced’ move, that is, move a piece or a pawn whose movement is
necessary before deciding the destination of other pieces which have options: 11.a5!
3. The king in the center offers unexpected possibilities: 15.Bh6!
4. It is important to keep your head even after an unexpected strong blow by the opponent. It is

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necessary to calm down and coldly assess the position: 15...d4?
15...Rg8!
5. ‘Chess is a team game’: 19.Nf4!
20.Ra4!
25.a6!

MAXIMUM SCORE: 43 POINTS

• More than 39 points: Super Grandmaster.
• Between 36 and 39 points: Grandmaster.
• Between 31 and 35 points: International Master.
• Between 25 and 30 points: You are a master at attacking the king.
• Between 18 and 24 points: You found some really good moves.
• Between 8 and17 points: I hope that this fine lesson from Vitiugov proves helpful to you.

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 Show in Text Mode

CHAPTER 2.
DEFENSE AND ATTACK

Game 10
White: You
Black: Master
Queen’s Indian Defense [E15]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5

This line has been in fashion for a long time, from way back in the ’80s. Karpov was very effective
with White, although he played it with both colors and even in his matches against Kasparov.

9.Ne5 Nfd7 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.0-0

12...Nf6

Many games have been played featuring this position. There are other possibilities; 12...Rc8, or
12...f5, radically avoiding e4, are the most commonly played.

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 13.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

13.e4

2 points. The most direct. 13.Re1 (1 point) has also been played, though it causes fewer problems
after 13...c5.

13...b5

The alternative is 13...dxe4.

14.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

14.exd5

2 points. The most flexible. 14.Re1, which abandons the f1–a6 diagonal and occupies the half-open
file, was popular for a long time, but was replaced when Black found a precise maneuver after
14...dxe4 15.Qc2 Rc8 16.Rad1. Can you find it?

Your move after 16.Rad1.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Black has an elegant resource at his disposal: 16...Nd5! (3 points), after 17.cxd5?! cxd5 the central
mass and the active pieces offer excellent compensation for the piece; 17.Bxe4 is preferable, but it
does allow Black to trade the knight for the c3-bishop.

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14...exd5

The other capture 14...cxd5 has also been played. How would you respond in that case?

Your move after 14...cxd5.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
In Anand–Adams, Wijk aan Zee 2005, White carried out an interesting exchange sacrifice: 15.c5! (3
points). After 15...b4 16.Bxb4 Bxf1 17.Bxf1 Black’s position seems acceptable, but it is more
difficult to play as Black than with White because the queenside majority is very threatening.
This is an important element that Carlsen highlighted; how easy it is to play a position makes the
objective assessment less significant.

15.Re1 Rb8 16.c5 Bc8

The bishop has no purpose on the queenside, so it is recycled.

“I am under the impression that White should be better, but Black’s practical results were very good,”
commented the winner in New in Chess 2006/2.

17.Nf3 Ne4

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 18.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

18.Rxe4!

4 points. “One day, when we were analyzing this game, I suggested 18.Rxe4 dxe4 19.Ne5, just to
see. We consulted the computer and it liked the idea; that is how it all started,” revealed the winner.
If normally the g2-bishop is a piece blocked by Black’s structure, now the story is vastly different; the
bishop increases its strength on the long diagonal.
18.Ne5 Nxc3 19.Qd3 Qc7 20.Qxc3 (1 point), was known but Black has no major problems.

18...dxe4 19.Ne5

The winner emphasized the practical side. He said that, although objectively Black’s position is
satisfactory, from the practical point of view it is very difficult for him to recover from the shock
suffered by facing a novelty like the one in the game.

19...Qd5

The most logical, and quickly played by Black, momentarily holding the e4-pawn so that the bishop
does not activate immediately.
A passive defense such as 19...Qc7 20.Bxe4 Bb7 21.Qf3 Rbc8 leaves White with several options. For
example 22.a4! is strong: if 22...f6 then 23.Qf5! fxe5 (or 23...g6 24.Nxg6) 24.Qxh7+ Kf7 25.Qh5+

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Ke6 26.Qg4+ Kf7 27.Bg6+ and mate in three is decisive.
No better is 20...b4 21.Bd2 Bd7 since now White also activates with 22.Bf4, followed by Qf3, Qd3
or d5, with overwhelming activity.

20.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

20.Qe1!

3 points. The e4-pawn should be eliminated, but it is important to always be tactically alert!
Choosing either 20.Qc2? or 20.Qe2? loses 1 point.
Let’s provide more reasons, e.g. the idea 20.Qc2? f5 21.f3 fails, but why?

Your move after 21.f3.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Due to 21...Bxc5! (2 points) 22.dxc5 Qxc5+ followed by 23...b4.
As we can see it is important that to attack the e4-pawn the queen goes to e1 to defend the c3 bishop,
but not on the c-file due to a further pinning.

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20...Bf5!

“The battle in this position is around the c6-pawn. If it falls, I will have two passers and a huge
advantage. Protecting that pawn is a matter of life or death for Black,” commented the winner.
Worse is 20...f5?! 21.f3! and White captures the e4-pawn. Insufficient then is the sac 21...Bxc5
22.dxc5 Qxc5+ 23.Kh1 Re8 24.b4 Qd6 25.Rd1, with advantage for White.

21.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

21.g4!

3 points. The doubt is whether to include this move before f3, or to play 21.f3 directly.
Again, tactics have the last word, and after 21.f3 (no points), Black could play 21...e3!, when if 22.f4
there follows 22...Be4, while after 22.Qxe3 f6 23.f4 Qe6 Black comes off well.
The winner showed another way: 21...Bxc5 22.dxc5 Qxc5+ 23.Kh1 exf3 24.Bxf3 Rfe8. This version
of the sac is superior to the previous one, though Black, with active pieces and two pawns for the
piece, has definite compensation.

21...Bg6

Not 21...f6? 22.Nxc6! Qxc6 23.gxf5 and the e4-pawn falls.

22.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

22.f3

1 point. No more intermediate moves, and no need to be greedy by capturing the pawn with
22.Nxg6?! (loses 1 point) 22...hxg6 23.Qxe4 Qxe4 24.Bxe4 b4! 25.Bb2 Rfc8 followed by ...Bf6.

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The winner and his team considered this to be the critical position for the assessment of 18.Rxe4.
We know that both rivals were in different ‘preparation conditions’ when reaching this position, but
objectively the position is not bad for Black, who can count on several options. For this move only,
defend the Black side.

22...Your move.

Choose between:
• 22...Bxc5
• 22...Rbc8
• 22...Rbd8
• 22...b4
• 22...e3

Show/Hide Solution

22...b4

1 point. This is an acceptable move, as are 22...Rbd8 (1 point) and 22...Rbc8 (1 point).
Only 22...e3? (loses 2 points) is clearly bad, as there follows 23.Qxe3, threatening Nxg6 and with the
idea of f4–f5.
The main line considered was 22...Bxc5! (2 points) 23.dxc5 Qxc5+ 24.Kh1 exf3 (24...b4 was
suggested, with the idea of 25.Bb2 Qc2 26.Qc1 Qe2, trying to create counterplay against the white
king, though it does not seem better.) 25.Bxf3, with the inclusion of 21.g4 Bg6 favoring White.

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Indeed, after the piece sac the position is complicated, as was admitted by the winner. He also added
that it was very difficult to sac the piece without prior analysis: he was playing almost without
thinking while his opponent had already spent more than an hour.

23.fxe4 Qe6 24.Bb2

Not 24.Bxb4? Bf6 and White’s structure is destroyed.

24...Bf6

The original analysis considered that 24...Rfd8 was best, and it is true that White — with a strong
center and the pawn — has good compensation for the exchange. 25.Qg3 might follow to bring the
rook into the fight, and with g5 followed by Bh3 or even d5 as possible plans.
Trying to get rid of the knight with 24...f6 is less convincing; how would you play in that case?

Your move after 24...f6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
There would follow 25.Nxg6 hxg6 26.Qg3 with the idea of 27.Bf1–c4, which is really good for
White. (2 points).
However the tempting 25.Bf1 (loses 1 point) has one flaw. What is it?

Your move after 25.Bf1.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Black gets excellent play by sacrificing the queen with 25...fxe5! (3 points), and after 26.Bc4 Qxc4
27.bxc4 he activates with 27...Rf3!, preventing Qg3 and followed by ...Rbf8, which seems even better
than 27...Rf4.

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 25.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

25.Nxc6!

2 points. White gets two passers and good practical chances.

White was less attracted to 25.d5 (1 point), where 25...Qe8 seems satisfactory. 26.Nxg6? does not
work now: 26...Bxb2 27.Nxf8 Bxa1 28.Qxa1 Kxf8 and White’s pawns are not dangerous. Better
would be 26.Qg3, but it is not clear that White has any advantage after 26...Rb5 27.Rc1 Ra5 with
good counterplay.

25...Qxc6 26.e5 Qa6 27.exf6 Rfe8!

Aiming for activity. However after 27...Qxf6 28.Qf2! Qg5 the pawns turn out to be very strong,
regardless of investing more pawns after 29.d5! Qxg4 30.Qd4.

28.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

28.Qf1!

2 points. As we saw, trading queens is very attractive to White due to the two connected passers.

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After 28.Qg3 (1 point) 28...Qxf6?! 29.Rf1 Qa6 30.d5 Qxa2 31.Bd4 White would stand a little better,
but 28...Qe2! is more annoying; the best chance for Black lies in taking advantage of the white king’s
weakness.

28...Qe2!

Black agrees to a trade of queens, but under his conditions.

29.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

29.Qf2!

2 points. Instead 29.Qxe2 Rxe2 30.Bc1 Re1+ 31.Kf2 Rbe8 offers Black a good game.

29...Qxg4

30.Your move.

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30.h3!

2 points. “An important intermediate move which forces Black to make a decision,” commented the

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winner.

30...Qg5?

After the previous impeccable defense this might be the first clear mistake.
Preferable was 30...Qh5, whereupon there follows 31.d5 Re2 32.Qf4 Rxg2+! 33.Kxg2 Qxd5+ and
Black is not worse.
White would possibly have preferred 31.Re1, controlling the e-file before attempting d5, but the
situation would be less clear.

31.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

31.Bc1!

2 points. This is the defect of Black’s choice, as the bishop enters the game with tempo via a stronger
diagonal.
Not, however, the rushed 31.d5? (loses 2 points) which gives Black an advantage after 31...Be4.

31...Qh5

Naturally 31...Qxf6 was to be considered, and after 32.Qxf6 gxf6 there are several moves to take into
account, such as 33.Bf4, or maybe better to first play 33.Kf2, and Black has a difficult task as the
passers are well-supported in their advance.

32.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

32.Bf4

1 point. Of course, coordination before advancing the pawns.

32...Rbd8

No better is 32...Re2 33.Qg3, threatening the rook as well as 34.Bf3.

Topalov considered that 32...Rbc8 was best, to which White has several choices. The most promising
seems to be 33.Re1, preparing the d5-advance, with advantage for White.

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 33.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

33.c6!

2 points. Taking advantage of the fact that after Black’s last, c7 now comes with tempo.
Again 33.d5? is weak due to 33...Be4.

33...Be4

If 33...Re2 there follows 34.c7 and then Qf3, or Qg3, when White’s pawns are so advanced that they
stop Black’s initiative.

34.Your move.

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34.c7

1 point. The time has come to take a step forward, and no other move gets points.

34...Rc8 35.Re1 Qg6

No better defense is offered by 35...Bxg2 36.Rxe8+ Rxe8 37.Qxg2, and if 37...g6 then 38.Qg4! wins.

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After 37...Qd1+ 38.Kh2 g6, how do you win this?

Your move after 38...g6.

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Answer:
39.d5?! is unclear due to 39...Qd3! and White’s pawns lose strength, but the elegant blow 39.Qe4! (3
points) was decisive, as after 39...Rc8 40.d5 Qf1 41.Qe3! White’s pawns are unstoppable.

36.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

36.Rxe4!

3 points. Another exchange sacrifice, eighteen moves after the first one and on the same square, as
pointed out by Topalov!
He added: “It is the kind of move your hand makes automatically.”

36...Rxe4

37.Your move.

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 Show/Hide Solution

37.d5

1 point. There is no doubt about the result; the pawns decide!

37...Rce8 38.d6 Re1+ 39.Kh2 Qf5 40.Qg3 g6 41.Qg5

41.Qg4 was the alternative, though what was played gives fewer options.

41...Qxg5

41...Qd3 gets mated after 42.Qh6.

42.Bxg5 Rd1 43.Bc6 Re2+

Or 43...Rc8 44.Bf4.

44.Kg3

After 44.Kg3 Rd3+ 45.Kf4 Rd4+ 46.Kf3 the checks are over.
This game was awarded both best game of the round and most beautiful game of the tournament.
1–0
Veselin Topalov–Levon Aronian, Corus, Wijk aan Zee, 25.01.2006

SOME LESSONS FROM THE GAME*

* Italics indicate that the move belongs to a line and not to the actual game.
1. It is important to know the typical maneuvers of the position. This is an extreme case, as Topalov
indicated: “It was an attractive, spectacular game, but after our preparation, when you know the
dynamics of the position, the moves are not that difficult to find.”
2. Petrosian basically introduced the exchange sacrifice. In this case it was done to increase the power
of the g2-bishop, aided by the e4- and c6-pawn weaknesses: 18.Rxe4!
36.Rxe4!
3. You always have to ask yourself: “What can my opponent respond with?”: 20.Qe1!
20.Qc2?
20.Qe2?
21.f3?
30...Qg5?

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4. Let’s also not forget to ask ourselves: “Which piece(s) should I exchange? Which should I keep?”
28.Qf1!
5. Make sure you always try to improve the position of the pieces: 31.Bc1!

MAXIMUM SCORE: 51 POINTS

• More than 45 points: Super Grandmaster.
• Between 41 and 45 points: Grandmaster.
• Between 35 and 40 points: International Master.
• Between 28 and 34 points: You are a master of dynamic play.
• Between 19 and 27 points: Good game!
• Between 8 and 18 points: What a pleasant style Topalov has! Don’t you think?
Game 11
White: You
Black: Master
English Opening [A31]

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5

This advance heralds a gambit that requires careful handling since it could be risky for the white king
if White gets it wrong.

5.Nb5 d5

This is the idea! Certainly Black could still desist and play 5...d6, and if e.g. 6.N5c3 or 6.N1c3,
followed by e4, it would transpose to a Sicilian Defense, Kalashnikov Variation, where it is
considered premature to develop the g8-knight to f6 since sometimes it is better to develop it via e7,
avoiding the annoying Bg5 pin.

6.cxd5 Bc5

We are in a well-known position, but anyway, here comes your first exam:

7.Your move.

Choose between:
• 7.d6
• 7.N1c3
• 7.N5c3

Show/Hide Solution

7.N5c3

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1 point. This is the only move which gets points.
Playing the other knight to c3 forces the one on b5 to retreat to a3 after ...a6, where it is badly placed.
If 7.d6? won material without risk that would be excellent, but more time is wasted, and after e.g.
7...0-0 8.Nc7 Ne4! 9.e3 Black has several satisfactory continuations, one of which is 9...Bb4+, when
there are problems because 10.Nd2 loses to 10...Qxd6 11.Nxa8 Rd8. If 10.Bd2 something similar
follows: 10...Nxd2 11.Nxd2 Qxd6, so it is necessary to play 10.Nc3, which also leaves Black with an
advantage after 10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bxc3+ 12.Bd2 Qxd6 13.Nxa8 Bxa1 14.Qxa1 Be6 followed by
...Nc6, regaining the sacrificed material while leaving White facing problems with his development.

7...0-0

8.g3

The most popular move here is 8.e3, but the game move has the advantage that the h2–b8 diagonal
remains closed, even if the light squares are weakened.

8...Qb6

Provoking new weaknesses; the main alternatives are 8...Ng4 and 8...e4.

9.e3 Bg4

Once the light squares are weakened it is tempting to trade the bishop that defends them, even though
being a pawn down could become a more influential factor.
The main alternative is to preserve the bishop by playing 9...Bf5 10.Bg2 e4.

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10.Be2 Bxe2

In the case of 10...Bh3, trying to hinder White’s castling, how would you respond?

Your move after 10...Bh3.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Since the bishop is fighting a lone battle, White can respond 11.g4! (2 points), with the threat of
Rg1–g3, forcing measures such as 11...Nfd7 allowing ...f5 and more simplifications, which would be
welcomed by White.

11.Qxe2 e4

“Allowing the d5-pawn to be strengthened with e3–e4 is, of course, not in Black’s plans.”

12.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

12.a3!

3 points. Trying to expand on the queenside in order to decide the b1-knight’s destination and then
castle.
Naturally moves like 12.0-0 (1 point) and 12.Nd2 (1 point) were possible, but with the text the reply
12...Bb4! is avoided, which would have disrupted White’s plans.

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12...Nbd7

Both this move and ...Re8 are practically forced, but the winner considered that it was more subtle to
play the order 12...Re8, in order to respond to 13.Nd2 with 13...Qc7.

13.Nd2 Rfe8

14.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

14.b4

1 point. Of course, with the aforementioned move-order suggestion, this advance would be
momentarily stopped (because c3 would be hanging). Now, however, “Black is less comfortable with
the bishop on f8,” as indicated by the winner, although the position is still complex.

14...Bf8 15.0-0

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Black should decide on a plan of action. There are several possibilities, one of the main ones being to
get the pawn back by capturing on d5. How to place the heavy pieces should also be decided.

15...Qc7

One of the good available choices; Black clears b6 for the d7-knight. Another possibility was
15...Rac8 and then ...Qd8, “which certainly does not seem that bad,” according to the winner.

16.Bb2

For this move only, defend Black’s position.

16...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

16...Nb6?

It is not only important to have the correct idea, but you should also see how to implement it
tactically. You lose 2 points with this careless move.

17.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

17.Nb5!

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4 points. Exploiting Black’s serious error.
Going back, the move 16...a6! (3 points) was the most precise, and only then ...Nb6, when Black has
a reasonable position.

White thought for ten minutes before playing this strong move. The quietest and best alternative was
17.Rad1 (1 point), followed by f3, but this seemed too timid to the player of the White pieces.

17...Qd7

18.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

18.d6

2 points. With the threat of 19.Nc7, although in the long run the pawn will fall. White is not
concerned about the immediate capture of the invader pawn after 18...Bxd6? because he has 19.Bxf6
gxf6 20.Rad1 when Black at a minimum loses the e4-pawn and has his structure seriously damaged.
Nevertheless it is logical to wonder why White does not capture first on f6 and then play d6?
Objectively it is even better, and after 18.Bxf6! gxf6 19.d6 (3 points), Black’s position is clearly
inferior.
White did not play it for a mistaken tactical reason: he believed that with 19...Re5 Black would stand
well. Refute this assessment.

Your move after 19...Re5.

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
The winner’s suggestion from twelve years ago is good: 20.a4 (1 point), as after 20...a6 21.Nc3 Qe6
22.Rad1 White is better, while on 21...f5 it is possible to reply with the simple 22.a5 Nd5 23.Nxd5
Rxd5 24.Nc4, among others, with advantage.
Another possibility is not to touch the queenside with a4, so as not to weaken b4, and play instead
20.Nd4 (1 point) or 20.Nc3 (2 points), which seems even better due to the possibility of f3. In all
lines, the weaknesses of Black’s castled position and that of the e4- and f6- (or f5) pawns weigh
heavily.

18...Nfd5

Black avoids the main threat, as well as the capture on f6, and now it is White’s turn to continue with
his idea. What is it?

19.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

19.Rac1

1 point. His idea is simply to occupy the central files before the opponent, which will give him an
advantage in activity.

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19...Bxd6

Now the strength of the b2-bishop on the long diagonal is added, as preserving the bishop costs tempo
to the little advantage of the better-placed rooks. For example 19...a6 20.Nc7 Nxc7 21.dxc7 Rac8
22.Bd4 Nd5 and here White can advantageously open the f-file with 23.f3!

20.Nxd6 Qxd6

21.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

21.Rfd1

1 point. The culmination of the idea started with 18.d6.

The next mini-plan will be to activate the d2-knight with Nb3, en route to d4 or maybe to c5.

21...Qe6

Black is trying to exchange off one of the knights, and the winner pointed out that an important
difficulty for Black is the lack of comfortable squares for the knights, as there are no pawns to hold
them in good positions.

22.Nb3 Nf4

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It was unpromising to try to take advantage of the weaknesses of White’s castled position with, for
example, 22...Qf5, as Black’s pieces are not well-placed for that idea. The winner indicated this
continuation: 23.Nc5 Re7 24.Rd4, when “Black has an unpleasant position. It is not easy defending
against Rad1 with the idea of a4.”
24.Qd2 seems even stronger, pressing d5 and defending b4, planning to continue with 25.a4.

23.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

23.gxf4

2 points. Not giving Black practical chances and with a definite idea in mind, as after 23.exf4 Qxb3,
the possibility of ...e3 is latent, and “Black would have certain chances of drawing,” as indicated by
the winner.

23...Qxb3

24.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

24.Kh1!

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4 points. This was the idea: White finds allies for the b2-bishop’s pressure against the black king.

24...Qe6

The queen returns to the defense.

If Black tries to keep it active with e.g. 24...Rac8, there follows 25.Rxc8 Nxc8 and White, besides
26.f5, has time to play 26.Ba1!, releasing the queen from the defense of the bishop in order to be able
to play Qb5, and his activity gives him the edge.
Why is it not possible to recapture with the rook on c8?

Your move after 25...Rxc8.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Due to 26.Qg4! (2 points), with a double threat: mate on g7 or 27.Qxc8+ and mate.
With 24...Qe6, the g4-square is controlled.

25.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

25.Rg1

2 points. Consequently, the winner commented he barely took 25.Rc7 (1 point) into consideration, so
as not to allow Black activity on the queenside, even sacrificing a pawn. It could be added that he
preferred to concentrate the fight on the most convenient flank for him: the kingside.

25...f6 26.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

26.Qh5

1 point. More back-up joins the fray, and now one of the direct threats is ((26...a6)) 27.Rxg7+ Kxg7
28.Rg1+ Kf8 (28...Kh8 29.Qh6 is worse) 29.Qxh7 Qf7 30.Qh6+ Ke7 31.Rg7 and the attack is very
strong, besides which a third pawn will soon fall.

26...Nd5

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 27.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

27.Rg3

2 points. Again consistent, as it threatens 28.Rh3 h6 29.Rg1, or first 28.Rcg1.

Instead 27.Rxg7+? (loses 1 point), as not much is given by 27...Kxg7 28.Rg1+ Kh8 (28...Kf8 loses
due to 29.Qxh7) 29.Qxd5 Re7 and Black holds.
27.f5 (1 point) could be played, and then Rg3 or Rg4, but there is nothing wrong with keeping the
pressure on the d5-knight, as well as the queen’s mobility on the fifth rank.

27...Kh8 28.Rcg1 Re7

29.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

29.Rh3

1 point. Again, the most direct and the strongest. It forces Black to choose between two unpleasant
moves.

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29...Qg8

This was made possible by 27...Kh8, the alternative being 29...h6, on which would follow 30.Rg6,
when “the pressure of the three heavy pieces could hardly be stopped,” indicated the winner, though
adding that maybe it was the lesser evil.

30.Qf5

“Now Black is left almost without moves.” (Aronian).

30...Rf8 31.Bd4 b6

32.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

32.Rg4

2 points. Starting the journey towards the h-file.

32...Rc7

33.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

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33.Rh5

2 points. The e4-pawn won’t escape, thus it forces Black to loosen up the defense of f6. “White’s
heavy piece maneuvers are beautiful.” (Aronian).

33...Ne7

34.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

34.Qxe4

1 point. Of course, White is a pawn up and does not release the pressure. Black gets no counterplay,
because if 34...f5 there follows 35.Rxg7, or 35.Bxg7+.

34...Rf7

“It is difficult to suggest a good move for Black.” (Aronian)

35.Your move.

Choose between:
• 35.Rg1
• 35.b5

Show/Hide Solution

35.Rg1

1 point. You always have to be alert! With g7 defended, 35...f5 was threatened, so playing the
careless 35.b5?? loses 5 points.

35...g6

“In the vain hope of creating a base for the unfortunate knight.” (Aronian)

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 36.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

36.Re5!

2 points. The prettiest, en route to e6, though equally crushing was 36.f5! (2 points).

36...Nc6?

A mistake precipitating his defeat. 36...Qg7 would have prolonged the agony, and the intended
37.Re6 could follow, when Black is still passive.

37.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

37.Re8

1 point. If 37...Rf8 there follows 38.Bxf6+.

1–0
Levon Aronian–Emil Sutovsky, European Team Championship, Heraklion, 06.11.2007

SOME LESSONS FROM THE GAME*

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* Italics indicate that the move belongs to a line and not to the actual game.
1. A correct idea is not enough, it is also important to ask yourself: “How can my opponent respond?”
16...Nb6?
2. In general, it is better to make one of those ‘forced’ moves, that is, make a move that is necessary
before deciding the destiny of another which has choices: 12.a3! 12...Re8!
3. When a pawn up, sometimes it is a good strategy to give it back in exchange for other advantages,
such as more active pieces: 17.Nb5!
4. “What piece can I improve?” is a good guide for finding better moves and plans: 22.Nb3!
24.Kh1!
27.Rg3!
5. Do not let your guard down at any moment: 35.b5?

MAXIMUM SCORE: 44 POINTS

• More than 39 points: Super Grandmaster.
• Between 36 and 39 points: Grand Master.
• Between 31 and 35 points: International Master.
• Between 25 and 30 points: You are a master of maneuvering.
• Between 18 and 24 points: You found many precise moves.
• Between 8 and 17 points: What a good lesson from Aronian on defense and attack, right?
Game 12
White: You
Black: Master
Queen’s Indian Defense [E15]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6

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5.Qc2

This move was never popular until an interesting idea was discovered that revived it.
Regarding the practical effect, the player of the white pieces in this game had almost always played
5.b3, so it is likely this move was not expected by his rival.
Another practical element is that the same master was active on several fronts at the same time:
besides taking part in the tournament, he was also preparing for a major event and his opening
preparation was basically focused on that match.
Naturally, he was not defenseless — a player of that level is always well prepared — but sometimes it
is the accumulation of little details that decides the games among strong players.

5...Bb7 6.Bg2 c5

This is a natural attempt to ‘punish’ the queen’s move that took her away from the d-file. What,
though, is the novel idea that revived the variation? We are still in the initial stages of theory, but
knowledge also counts towards scoring points.

7.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

7.d5

2 points. With the queen on d1 this move would be very strong, because if 7...exd5 there would
follow 8.Nh4, and after recapturing on d5 it would transpose into a kind of Benoni with the bishop

144
misplaced on b7.
Here it is a sacrifice, one that popularized the variation.
Of course, there is no objection to quieter moves like 7.dxc5 (1 point) and 7.0-0 (1 point).

7...exd5 8.cxd5 Nxd5

The novelty-producing game Vallejo–Macieja saw 8...Bxd5 9.Nc3 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Nc6 11.Qa4 Rc8
12.Bf4 Be7 13.0-0-0 with excellent compensation for the pawn; Black’s position is under pressure
and 1–0 in forty-two moves.

9.0-0 Be7

10.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

10.Rd1

2 points. This move is almost essential; the rook exerts pressure on the d-file. Another popular idea at
first was 10.Qe4 (1 point), trying to take advantage of the pins, but it was soon replaced by the text,
since among other things it is not easy to get any advantage after the simple 10...Bc6.

10...Qc8

Defending the bishop. The main alternative is 10...Nc6.

The natural 10...0-0 was not possible. Why?

Your move after 10...0-0.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because, thanks to the rook on d1, White wins material with 11.Qe4 (1 point).

11.a3

An apparently modest move that covers the b4-square. It seems like a harmless waiting move, but of
course it is not so.
Other possibilities are 11.Qf5, 11.e4 and even 11.Bg5.

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11...Nf6

One of the ideas of the waiting move 11.a3 is that Black cannot play 11...0-0. Why?

Your move after 11...0-0.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Again the same move 12.Qe4! (2 points), taking advantage of the pin and the undefended e7-bishop.
After 12...Nc3 13.Qxe7 Nxd1 14.Qd6 the d1-knight is trapped.
In order not to lose material Black should play 12...f5, but his position is terrible after the sequence
13.Qc4 b5 14.Qxb5 or 14.Qb3 c4 15.Qxb5.

12.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

12.Bg5!

3 points. An idea with a lot of venom.

After the natural 12.Nc3 (1 point), Black’s play is easier, e.g. 12...d5, and now if 13.Bg5 there is a
tempo for 13...Nbd7, and Black proved to be fine after 14.e4 d4 15.e5 Nxe5! 16.Nxe5 Bxg2 17.Qa4+
Nd7! in Kramnik–Leko, Moscow 2008.

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12...d5

A natural move, but possibly not the best. The winner commented in New in Chess that his rival “had
fallen for the trap.”
Previously played were 12...h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nc3 and 12...0-0 13.Nc3, when White avoids the
...d5-advance, has a freer game, and gets the type of compensation seen in similar positions with the
d5-sacrifice in Queen’s Indian lines. Chances are equal.
What was the trap?

13.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

13.Bxf6!

4 points. Concrete play! The bishop doesn’t even wait to be questioned with ...h6.

13...Bxf6

14.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

14.Nc3

1 point. This is the idea; White continues development, threatening to regain the sacrificed pawn.
At first sight it does not impress and even “seems illogical: Black has the bishop pair, an extra pawn
and it is his turn to play, but he already has problems!” commented the winner.

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14...Bxc3!

Black opts for the most tenacious defense, as the knight on c3 is very annoying.
White’s idea is based on several tactical details, one of which — 14...d4 — is not to be feared. Why
not?

Your move after 14...d4.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because White takes advantage of tactical weaknesses, particularly on d6, with 15.Nb5! (2 points)
15...Qd7 16.Nfxd4! Bxg2 (16...cxd4? 17.Bxb7+–) 17.Nf5! or 17.Ne6!, and 15...Be7 is no better as
there follows 16.Nbxd4! with the knight heading towards f5.
Similar is 15.Ne4! (2 points) 15...Be7 16.Nxd4! and now 16...cxd4 loses after 17.Qxc8+ Bxc8 due to
18.Nd2.
Let’s see another defense: how is 14...Qe6 refuted?

Your move after 14...Qe6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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With the typical Queen’s Indian combination which exploits the h7-weakness and the long White
diagonal: 15.Nxd5! (2 points) 15...Bxd5 16.Ng5 and now 16...Bb3 is forced, when White wins
material after 17.Nxe6 Bxc2 18.Rd2.
That’s not the only way, but certainly the most practical one, and also fine is the surprising 15.e4! (2
points), e.g. 15...dxe4 16.Ng5! Bxg5 and White is an exchange up.

15.bxc3

I suggest that for this move only in the game you try to defend Black’s position.

15...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

15...Na6

Black is aiming for development, making useful moves, and the knight can go now to c7, defending
d5. Why did he reject the obvious 15...0-0?

Your move after 15...0-0.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because of the simple 16.Ng5 (2 points), when there follows 16...g6 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 with
material equality and the more active pieces. One idea, besides playing Rad1, is to swing the queen to
the kingside via a4 and h4, or e4 and h4.
Why not develop the knight to a more centralized position with 15...Nd7?

Your move after 15...Nd7.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because the knight turns into a tactical weakness after 16.e4! (2 points) 16...dxe4?! 17.Bh3! Bc6
18.Rxd7 (or 18.Bxd7+) 18...Bxd7 19.Qxe4+ Be6 20.Ng5 Ke7 21.Re1, winning.
Preferable is 16...d4, giving the pawn back, but White is better after 17.cxd4 cxd4 18.Qb2. No points
for any of the moves mentioned.

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All that said, the best defense seems 15...Qc7! (2 points), preparing 16...Nd7, when the most
dangerous seems to be 16.Ng5. Now Black can play 16...Nd7!, and after 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 Nf6
19.Qa4+ he should play 19...Kf8, targeting the rook, with the idea of 20...h6 followed by ...g6 and
...Kg7, or prefaced by 20...Re8 if necessary.
Also possible is 17.Rxd5 Nf6 18.Qa4+ Kf8, but it does not seem dangerous. Logically, there are
more lines, but 15...Qc7! seems somewhat better than what was chosen.

16.Your move.

Choose between:
• 16.Ng5
• 16.Nh4
• 16.Qa4+

Show/Hide Solution

16.Nh4

3 points. Accelerating the play on the kingside, besides targeting the d5-pawn.
Now, with the knight on a6, 16.Ng5?! (loses 1 point) is not to be feared: Black would play 16...Nc7
followed by 17...h6 and 18...0-0.
It was possible to get the pawn back with 16.Qa4+ (2 points), when on 16...Bc6 White has the
annoying 17.Qf4. Instead Black can play 16...Qc6 or 16...Qd7, but after 17.Qxd7+ Kxd7 18.e4
White gets the pawn back with a good position, but he preferred not to trade queens.

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16...g6

Stopping 17.Nf5. In case of 16...0-0 17.Nf5 Qc7 18.Bxd5 White’s position is preferable, as after
18...Bxd5 19.Rxd5 Rad8 there could follow 20.e4.
The idea of castling on the other flank is worse. After 16...Qe6 17.Nf5 0-0-0 (or 17...0-0 18.c4)
18.Nxg7 Qf6 19.Nf5 White’s advantage is clear: better pieces and the superior structure.

17.Bxd5 Bxd5

Why not 17...0-0?

Your move after 17...0-0.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because of 18.Nxg6! (2 points), and now 18...hxg6 19.Qxg6+ Kh8 20.Qf6+ Kg8 (20...Kh7 is
similar) 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Rd6, with a mating attack is not possible.

18.Rxd5 0-0

19.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

19.Rad1

1 point. Of course, incorporating the only inactive piece.

“White has recovered the pawn and now has a clear advantage: d-file control and Black has an
unprotected kingside.” (Topalov).

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19...Nc7

The knight heads to e6 to try to reinforce Black’s castled position.

19...c4 could be tried, to bring the knight to c5, but White can play 20.Nf3 Nc5 21.Ne5, targeting c4
and keeping the more active pieces.

20.Rd7 Ne6

21.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

21.Qe4

2 points. The queen was missing and is now centralized, one of the ideas being 22.Nf3 and 23.Qh4.
In view of the tactical resource at Black’s disposal it was worth considering first playing 21.R1d5 (3
points), or 21.R1d6 (3 points).

21...Qe8?!

A passive move which leaves Black on the brink of defeat.

The problems do not disappear completely after 21...c4, threatening ...Nc5, due to 22.Qf3, preparing
Ng2–e3, but it was a good alternative.
The resource alluded to was 21...Nd4, harassing the infiltrated rook.

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 Your move after 21...Nd4.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
White continues with a more active game after 22.Qe7 (2 points) 22...Nc6 23.Qf6 (23.Nf5 only
leads to a slightly superior position) 23...Nd4 24.Re7, where best now is 24...Qc6 25.Qg5 Ne6
26.Qe5 with a slight advantage for White. This also seems much better than what was played.
Playing 24...Nc6 instead of 24...Qc6 is worse, but why?

Your move after 24...Nc6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Due to 25.Nxg6! hxg6 26.Re4 (2 points), when the only defense is 26...Qf5 27.Qxc6, leaving White
with an extra pawn and more active pieces.

22.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

22.Nf3

2 points. The time to improve the knight has come, with ideas of contributing to the attack.

22...c4

On 22...Rd8, 23.Qb7! is very strong and White dominates the whole board.
After the game, the resource 22...Nd4 was mentioned. How would you play then?

Your move after 22...Nd4.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Not with 23.Re7?! (no points), which allows 23...Qa4! releasing the pressure, but rather with

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23.Ne5! (2 points) when after 23...Nc6, Anand himself mentioned the line 24.f4! Nxe5 25.fxe5 Qe6
26.R1d6 Qh3 27.Rc7, considering White’s position to be practically winning.

23.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

23.Qh4!

2 points. Better than 23.Qxc4 (no points) since the attack is very strong.

23...Nc5

If 23...Rd8 White has the decisive 24.Ne5! with the idea of Ng4–f6+. If 24...h5 25.Qf6, with the idea
of 26.R1d6 and 27.Re7, while after 25...Rxd7 26.Rxd7 Black has no good defense against the threat of
27.Re7 followed by 28.Nxg6.

24.Re7 Rd8

If 24...Qa4 White’s attack is unstoppable after...

Your move after 24...Qa4.

Show/Hide Solution

154
Answer:
The most crushing is 25.Rd6! (2 points), with the idea of Ng5, and now 25...Qc2 (on 25...Qxa3
White wins with 26.Ng5 h5 27.Rxg6+! fxg6 28.Qxc4+ and mate) 26.Ng5 h5 27.Rf6, and f7 is
defenseless.

25.Rf1!

25.Rd4 Rxd4 26.cxd4 Qd8 27.dxc5 is possible, but 27...c3 delays the denouement.
After 25...Qc6 26.Ng5 h5 there is the decisive 27.Nxf7! Rxf7 28.Rxf7 and the d8-rook is undefended.
1–0
Veselin Topalov–Viswanathan Anand, Bilbao, 05.09.2008

SOME LESSONS FROM THE GAME*

* Italics indicate that the move belongs to a line and not to the actual game.
1. Deciding which pieces to exchange and which ones to keep often indicates the best way to go:
12.Bg5!
13.Bxf6!
25.Rf1!
2. Another frequent question in this section is: what piece can I improve? 16.Nh4!
19.Rad1!
22.Nf3!
3. You have to be alert to tactical weaknesses such as loose pieces, weak squares, etc. 16.Nfxd4!
15.Nxd5! in the comments to Black’s fourteenth move.
4. When attacking, the most important element is speed: 23.Qh4!

MAXIMUM SCORE: 46 POINTS

• More than 40 points: Super Grandmaster.
• Between 36 and 40 points: Grandmaster.
• Between 30 and 35 points: International Master.
• Between 24 and 29 points: Again you proved to be a Master.
• Between 17 and 23 points: You played very well at certain important moments.
• Between 8 and 16 points: What do you think about this model of dynamic play?

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 13
White: You
Black: Master
Slav Defense [D15]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6

5.c5

Whites chooses this continuation from the multiple possibilities that exist against the Chebanenko
variation; the move prevents ...dxc4 while trying to exploit the weaknesses on the dark squares
created by the moves ...c6 and ...a6.

5...Nbd7

In a way, the most ‘Slav’ continuation is 5...Bf5, developing the bishop outside the pawn chain, but
what was played, and 5...g6, are also very popular.

6.Bf4 Nh5

Black opts for eliminating the annoying bishop. Another plan is to play 6...g6 and, after castling, to

156
prepare the counterpunch ...e5 with a timely ...Ne8. There is also the pawn break ...b6 to get rid of the
c5-pawn.

7.e3

White can also preserve the bishop with 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bd2, or directly with 7.Bd2, but here prefers to
speed up development.

7...Nxf4

Again the alternative is 7...g6.

8.exf4 b6

This is the thematic break: how would you respond?

9.Your move.

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9.b4

2 points. Supporting c5. Instead, after 9.cxb6 (no points), Black takes advantage of the fact that ...g6
has not been played yet and plays 9...e6!. After 10.Bd3 Bd6 Black is planning to take back with the
queen on b6 and open lines up with ...c5, thus eliminating the backward pawn.

9...Qc7

Black develops the queen with tempo and defends the c6-pawn in anticipation of making the ...b6
break safer.
How to defend the f4-pawn?

10.Your move.

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10.Qd2

2 points. The differences are minimal, but in principle this move is a little more useful than 10.g3 (1
point), since later it is possible to connect the rooks a tempo quicker. Besides, in some lines there is a
tactical reason.

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10...g6

The ...a5 break is always latent; how would you respond?

Your move after 10...a5.

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Answer:
Playing 10...a5 would be premature due to the strong 11.b5! (2 points), when Black’s pieces are
misplaced after 11...bxc5 12.bxc6 Qxc6 13.Ne5! Qe6 (of course, not 13...Nxe5? 14.Bb5). Among
several promising moves, such as the simple 14.Be2 and castling, the winner indicated 14.Nb5! Kd8
15.Be2, and naturally the black king’s position in the center gives White an advantage.

11.Your move.

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11.Rc1

2 points. Trying to prove with the ‘X-ray’ between this rook and the black queen that 9...Qc7 was not
all just advantages.
Black must now worry about a timely cxb6, and also in case of an eventual ...a5, White’s b5-advance
could be stronger.

11...Bh6

Black responds in kind, trying to exploit the position of the queen on d2 to back up a timely ...e5.
The logical alternative was 11...Bg7.

12.g3 bxc5

“Black does not want to consider a possible capture on b6 and decided to focus totally on his main
strategic idea,” commented the winner.

13.bxc5 0-0

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How to face Black’s above-mentioned main idea?

14.Your move.

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14.h4!

4 points. Creating a new, favorable, fighting front, with the idea of playing h5, exploiting the
situation of the bishop on h6 to make Black reconsider the implementation of his ...e5- idea.
In case of 14.Bg2, Black slowly prepares the ...e5 break with 14...Re8, and if e.g. 15.Qc2 there
follows 15...f6! and ...e5, while if 15.Qd1 it is necessary to play a preparatory move like ...Kh8 or
...Rb8 before ...e5. This is to avoid the tactical blow Nxd5 and Qxd5 with check, followed by
capturing the rook on a8, after dxe5. But it is not a problem, there is time.
The careless 14.Bh3 is met by 14...Ne5!, while if 14.Be2 a useful move is 14...Rb8, so as to respond
to 15.0-0?! with 15...e5!.

14...e5?!

Black did not reconsider his original idea; this is ambitious, but also risky.
Less sharp is 14...Nf6, when on 15.Bd3 Nh5! is possible, insisting on the idea of playing ...f6 and
...e5.

15.dxe5 Nxe5

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The situation is new, and there are open lines and adjustments that need to be made for the change of
scenario.
15...Nxc5?! was inconvenient for Black because White could progress with 16.h5.
15...Re8 was very interesting indeed; how would you respond in that case?

Your move after 15...Re8.

Choose between:
• 16.Be2
• 16.h5

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Answer:
Black has active pieces and the white king is in the center, so play should be dictated by Black’s
activity.
The most precise is 16.Be2! (2 points), after 16...Nxc5 (16...Nxe5 transposes to the game). White
stands better with 17.Kf1 followed by h5 and Kg2, or first 17.h5, with the same idea.
Instead, the careless 16.h5? (loses 2 points) only brings problems to White after 16...g5!, or after e.g.
17.Qd4 gxf4 18.gxf4 f6 and Black is better.

16.Nxe5 Re8 17.Be2 Rxe5

The situation has sharpened and the value of every move increases.

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